The Stirling Highland Games, a longstanding celebration of Scottish heritage and culture, has launched a new campaign urging locals and visitors to purchase entry tickets to the event. This initiative aims to support the not-for-profit organization that has been organizing the games since 2014.
The Stirling Highland Games committee is hopeful that this year’s event will generate enough revenue to sustain its organizers, Ceangail, through 2025. This would provide the social enterprise with the opportunity to move forward with its development proposal for the Burgh Meadows, which is currently under review by the Stirling Council.
The proposed Burgh Meadows development aims to transform an unused brownfield site into a vibrant community hub. One of its key features is a state-of-the-art training facility for Highland Games athletes. This facility would provide a dedicated space for training and development, preserving and promoting the traditional Scottish sports and activities that are central to the Highland Games.
The support of the Stirling Highland Games committee for this proposal highlights the importance of investing in local sports infrastructure. The games, which attract competitors and spectators from around the world, serve as a platform for showcasing Scotland’s rich cultural heritage. However, the lack of a dedicated training facility for athletes has been a hindrance to their success, with many relying on makeshift arrangements that do not fully meet their needs.
Matt McGrandles, President of the Stirling Highland Games, expressed his excitement for the project, stating, “Our support for this proposal is a natural extension of our commitment to the sport and our community. The development at Burgh Meadows will not only provide much-needed training facilities for us, but will also serve as a focal point for nurturing local talent and promoting wider participation in the Highland Games.”
The Highland Games committee plans to offer comprehensive training programs for athletes at all skill levels, from beginners to elite competitors. These programs will be led by experienced coaches who specialize in the unique techniques and physical conditioning required for success in Highland Games events. The Burgh Meadows development would provide SHG with a top-tier facility, enabling them to raise the standard of competition and inspire a new generation of athletes.
Matt added, “With continued support from our partners, I would also love to see Stirling become the base for the Wounded Highlanders, where para-athletes can meet, train, and improve their skills for Highland Games competitions. I am proud that Stirling is already leading the way in this area, and I hope that with the help of our fantastic Adaptive Heavyweights Supporter, Anatomical Concepts, we can make this vision a reality within the next 3 to 5 years. But first, we need a proper sports field, which is why the success of Ceangail’s proposal is crucial to us.”
Residents and visitors will soon see promotional cards in businesses across central Scotland, encouraging them to purchase tickets for the Stirling Highland Games. By scanning the QR code on the card, they will be directed to the event’s website, where they can buy tickets and make a difference.
Ceangail’s social mission is to inspire young people to pursue careers in tourism through vocational training programs and practical experiences, such as the Stirling Highland Games. Since its inception in 2014, the event has provided over 170 young people with hands-on experience in events, digital media, and heritage tours.
More information about tickets for the Stirling Highland Games can be found on their website, www.stirlinghighlandgames.com. For further details about Ceangail CIC, please visit www.ceangail.org.
This news story was distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/
